FIBA Basketball

    ESP - Navarro takes his turn leading Spaniards to another victory

    SINGAPORE (FIBA World Championship) - Juan Carlos Navarro is hoping Spain can build on the momentum they have created this summer and challenge for the title at the FIBA World Championship in Japan.

    SINGAPORE (FIBA World Championship) - Spain guard Juan Carlos Navarro is hoping he and his team-mates can build on the momentum they have created this summer and challenge for the title at the FIBA World Championship in Japan.

    So far, the Spaniards have been a different class against each of their opponents, including Olympic champions Argentina whom they beat in the Madrid Tournament final.

    The two sides meet again on Sunday in the Philips Singapore Cup.

    After scoring 14 points and leading Spain to an 80-65 triumph over Serbia & Montenegro on Saturday, Navarro said: "I hope that we can continue playing this way until the World Championship because we have won a lot of games during our preparations.

    "At the beginning of the third quarter, we were in trouble but we were able to solve our problems and recover our position. That's a positive sign for us that we were able to rediscover our tempo."

    Navarro had to go up against Serbia & Montenegro captain Igor Rakocevic, a professional he encounters in the ACB – Spain's top flight.

    Rakocevic played for Real Madrid last season while Navarro, the ACB's most valuable player in 2005-06, is a guard with Winterthur Barcelona.

    "Igor Rakocevic is a very good player and it is difficult to defend against him because he is very strong physically and you cannot rest," Navarro said.

    "But I believe that when you play against this type of player, you can really learn to improve yourself."

    Navarro often takes center-stage for the Spaniards with his scoring bursts.

    "I like to take responsibility in the game," he said.

    "Today it was my turn. In other games, there is a chance for another player and today, Pau Gasol was not as good as he usually is on offense.

    "But this is what basketball is about, it's about a team and I like certain responsibilities."

    From Colin Pereira, PA Sport
    Exclusively for FIBA